Embark on an unforgettable journey along the Hakkoda-Towada Gold Line, a premier scenic route connecting the majestic Hakkoda Ropeway to the emerald waters of Lake Towada. This guide takes you through the heart of Aomori’s wilderness, starting with the towering Hakkoda Snow Corridor and the steaming volcanic depths of Jigoku-numa. Experience the healing waters of legendary “secret” hot springs like Sukayu Onsen, Yachi Onsen, and the historic Tsuta Onsen Ryokan before descending into the breathtaking Oirase Gorge. Whether you are photographing the fiery autumn reflections of Tsuta-numa pond or hiking alongside the moss-covered waterfalls of the Oirase mountain stream, this route is the ultimate way to discover the raw natural beauty of Northern Japan.
The Stunning Spots Along the Hakkoda-Towada Gold Line
- Hakkōda Ropeway (八甲田ロープウェー)
- Jōgakura Onsen (城ヶ倉温泉)
- Jōgakura Bridge (城ヶ倉大橋)
- Sukayu Onsen (酸ケ湯温泉)
- Hakkōda Snow Corridor (八甲田雪の回廊)
- The Picturesque Ponds Between Sukayu Onsen & Tsuta Onsen
- Yachi Onsen (谷地温泉)
- Tsuta Onsen Ryokan (蔦温泉旅館)
- Yakeyama (焼山)
- Oirase Gorge (奥入瀬渓流)
- Lake Towada (十和田湖)
Refer to our How to Get to the Picturesque Oirase Gorge article for more access information in the area.
Hakkōda Ropeway (八甲田ロープウェー)
Hakkoda Ropeway is the first scenic spot you will encounter after departing Aomori City center. This iconic aerial lift offers passengers breathtaking, panoramic views of the surrounding peaks, Aomori City, and even distant Hokkaidō on a clear day. Whether you are seeking to marvel at vibrant autumn foliage, trek through alpine marshlands in summer, or experience world-class powder skiing and see the famous “snow monsters” in winter, the Hakkoda Ropeway delivers an unforgettable, year-round natural escape.
For more information, please refer to our article on Hakkōda Ropeway!
Jōgakura Onsen (城ヶ倉温泉)
Nestled deep within the serene beech forests of Aomori, Jogakura Onsen offers a tranquil mountain resort experience that stands in beautiful contrast to the rugged volcanic peaks of the Hakkōda range. Best known for Hotel Jogakura, this secluded retreat features the only year-round outdoor hot spring bath in the Hakkōda area, providing a front-row seat to Japan’s shifting seasons.
Located just a 7-minute drive from the Hakkōda Ropeway, Jogakura Onsen is the perfect base for travelers seeking a modern, Scandinavian-style resort atmosphere combined with traditional Japanese hospitality and healing mineral waters.
If your itinerary isn’t so packed, why not enjoy a few hours of trekking or even hiking from Hakkōda Ropeway’s Summit Station to the hotel and spend the night there? This would be the place to unwind and rest your tired feet so that you will be full of energy as you explore Oirase Gorge the next day!
The dinner and breakfast are deliciously prepared with ingredients sourced freshly and locally. Plus, their outdoor onsen facility is open year-round!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to bathe in the light green-colored virgin beech forest in spring and summer, vibrant autumn leaves in the fall and pure-white snow in winter?
HERE is the link to their official English website. Please also refer to the information below that may be useful in the event you decide to make a reservation (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
About Jōgakura Onsen
- Hotel Jogakura provides its overnight guests with a free pick-up service from the police station in front of JR Aomori Station (青森駅), departing at 3:30 pm each day. If you require this service, please reserve 3 days in advance.
- There might also be free pick-up and drop-off services to and from Sukayu Onsen and Jōgakura Bridge. Please confirm with the staff upon arrival.
- If you enjoy stargazing, the resort may rent equipment to its guests. Please check with the reception on the day for more information and its availability.
- The resort offers a backcountry ski tour, but you will need basic Japanese skills to participate.
- There are no private onsen facilities available, but you can reserve the rooms that come with a small onsen pool.
- Not all room types have shower facilities equipped.
- There are washing machines and dryers available if you need them (not free, though).
Tip: If you are a vegetarian like us, don’t forget to inform them of your dietary requirements when you book (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
Jōgakura Bridge (城ヶ倉大橋)
Standing as a majestic feat of engineering amid the wild peaks of Aomori, the Jōgakura Bridge (Jōgakura-ōhashi) is famous as the longest deck-arch bridge in Japan. Spanning 360 meters and soaring 122 meters above the pristine Jōgakura Stream, this bridge offers one of the most breathtaking 360-degree viewpoints in the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
While it provides spectacular views of the Hakkōda Mountains and Mt. Iwaki year-round, it becomes a global sensation from mid to late October when the surrounding beech forests explode into a fiery sea of autumn gold and crimson.
The winter wonderland bridge view is another reason why so many people love this bridge (*´ω｀).
The magnificent bridge is located just a 30-minute walk from Jōgakura Onsen.
Sukayu Onsen (酸ケ湯温泉)
Traveling further south towards Oirase Gorge, Sukayu Onsen is a legendary mountain retreat located 900 meters above sea level in the heart of the Hakkōda Mountains. This historic wooden inn is world-renowned for its Sennin-buro (Thousand-Person Bath), a massive, atmospheric mixed-gender hall crafted entirely from fragrant Aomori Hiba cypress.
As the first hot spring in Japan to be designated a “National Recreation Hot Spring Area,” Sukayu is celebrated for its highly acidic, milky-white waters that offer powerful therapeutic benefits.
For more information about this authentic “secret” hot springs, refer to our article on Sukayu Onsen!
There is also a Sukayu Onsen Campsite (酸ヶ湯キャンプ場) close to it!
Hakkōda Snow Corridor (Hakkōda Yuki no Kairo, 八甲田雪の回廊)
Instead of going to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route‘s snow corridor, which is usually packed with people, how about visiting the snow corridor close to Sukayu Onsen instead?
Every April, after months of record-breaking snowfall, snowplows carve a path through the deep drifts of the Hakkōda-Towada Gold Line, creating towering white walls that can reach up to 10 meters (33 feet) in height. Stretching for 8 kilometers between Sukayu Onsen and Yachi Onsen (谷地温泉), this breathtaking corridor offers a surreal driving and walking experience that marks the transition from winter to spring in Aomori.
The best time to visit the corridor is in early April. But even during Golden Week at the beginning of May, the snow wall will still be approximately as tall as you are (^_-)-☆
How to Get to the Hakkōda Snow Corridor
To get to Hakkoda Snow Corridor, if you plan to use public transport, you can take JR Bus Mizuumi-gō (みずうみ号) and get off at Sukayu Onsen (酸ケ湯温泉). From there, head for National Highway 103 (国道103号線) towards Yachi Onsen (谷地温泉). It shouldn’t take you too long before you see the corridor!
- From Aomori:
To get to Sukayu Onsen, please take JR Bus Mizuumi-gō from either JR Aomori Station’s bus stop no. 11 or bus stop no. 1 located at JR Shin-Aomori’s east exit. - From Lake Towada:
To get to Sukayu Onsen, please take JR Bus Mizuumi-gō from JR Tohoku Bus Nenokuchi Station (ジェイアールバス東北 子ノ口駅)
Refer to our How to Get to the Picturesque Oirase Gorge article for more information about the JR Bus.
The Picturesque Ponds Between Sukayu Onsen and Tsuta Onsen
Between the historic Sukayu Onsen and the serene Tsuta Onsen lies a trail of Aomori’s most hidden natural gems: a collection of volcanic and marshland ponds that offer some of the most surreal landscapes in Northern Japan. From the steaming, sulfur-rich waters of Jigoku-numa (Hell Pond), a vivid crater lake that stays warm even in the dead of winter, to the high-altitude reflections of Suiren-numa, these spots are a photographer’s dream along the Hakkoda Gold Line.
Whether you are stopping to see the mountain-reflecting waters of the Tsuta Seven Ponds (Tsuta no Nana Numa) or exploring the alpine flora that blooms in the marshes during summer, these picturesque ponds provide a tranquil escape into the untouched wilderness of Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
To plan your visit to those stunning ponds, please refer to HERE for more information!
Yachi Onsen (谷地温泉)
Recognized as one of Japan’s “Three Great Hidden Hot Springs,” Yachi Onsen is a rustic mountain sanctuary with over 400 years of history. Tucked away in a secluded valley within the Hakkoda Mountains, this traditional wooden ryokan is famous for its “living” hot spring waters that bubble up naturally from the bottom of the tubs.
You can also explore the nearby Yachi Wetlands during your visit.
For more information, refer to our article on Yachi Onsen!
Tsuta Onsen Ryokan (蔦温泉旅館)
Tsuta Onsen is another ryokan in the Hakkoda Mountains with a history of hundreds of years. It is an architectural and natural masterpiece hidden within the ancient beech forests of Aomori. This legendary facility is world-renowned for its rare Kyu-no-yu baths, where crystal-clear mineral water bubbles up directly through the floorboards of the historic wooden tubs.
Located in the heart of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, the ryokan also serves as the gateway to the famous Tsuta Seven Ponds, including the iconic Tsuta-numa, which draws photographers from across the globe for its fiery autumn sunrise reflections.
For more information, refer to our Tsuta Onsen Ryokan article!
Yakeyama (焼山)
Serving as the tranquil northern gateway to the world-renowned Oirase Gorge, the charming base camp offers travelers a perfect place to refuel, rent bicycles, or soak in Hiba-wood hot springs before heading toward Lake Towada. Whether you are preparing for a 14-kilometer hike through “moss-covered fantasy” landscapes or catching the JR Bus toward the Hakkoda Ropeway, Yakeyama is the perfect base along the Hakkoda-Towada Gold Line.
For more information, please refer to our article on Yakeyama!
Oirase Gorge (奥入瀬渓流)
South of Yakeyama, Oirase Gorge is the highlight of the Hakkoda-Towada Gold Line. The breathtaking valley is renowned as one of Japan’s most scenic destinations, especially during the vibrant autumn foliage season.
Whether you are hiking the flat, accessible forest trails, cycling from Yakeyama to Nenokuchi, or photographing iconic waterfalls, our Oirase Gorge Travel Guide provides all the essential tips on transport, seasonal highlights, and hidden spots along the river.
Lake Towada (十和田湖)
Nestled on the border of Aomori and Akita prefectures, Lake Towada is the largest crater lake on Japan’s main island. Formed by massive volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago, this dual-caldera lake is famous for its crystal-blue depths, the iconic “Statue of Maidens” at Yasumiya, and the sacred Towada Shrine. Whether you are taking a scenic sightseeing cruise to marvel at the sheer cliffs of the Ogura and Nakayama peninsulas or enjoying the fiery autumn colors, Lake Towada offers a serene and spiritual conclusion to the Hakkoda-Towada Gold Line journey.
For more information, refer to our article on Lake Towada.
